Mice and Rats
Rats and mice are the most abundant and therefore the more annoying and destructive of all rodents the homeowner or business owner may encounter. Throughout history, they have been responsible for more human illnesses and deaths than any other mammals. Man's indifference and carelessness in handling food and trash or garbage has fostered populations of these rodents close to our homes and work places.
The most common are the Norway Rat, the roof rat and the house mouse. The Norway Rats are burrowing rodents. The adults average one pound in weight, have coarse, reddish-brown fur and a blunt nose. Their droppings are large, up to 3/4 inch long. They reach maturity in approximately 3 to 5 months, have a gestation period of about 22 days and each female averages about 20 young per year in 4 to 7 litters. The Norway Rat lives an average of one year. They prefer the outdoors and burrow in the ground under foundations and in trash dumps. Inside they live between floors and walls and enclosed places out of sight. The roof rat is smaller than the Norway and prefers warmer areas of the U.S. They seem to prefer above-ground dwellings, in attics, between walls or outdoors in trees and vines. The house mouse is the smallest of the household rodents, weighing only about 1/2 to 3/4 ounce, is gray and has a long tail. It reaches maturity in about only 6 weeks, has a gestation period of about 19 days. They also live about a year and live in any convenient, protected space.
Controlling rodent infestations is mostly due to the common sense elimination of their food, water and harboring sources. They need only happen on to you and find your home or office a comfortable, safe place offering the slightest bit of food they need to decide to set up housekeeping. Elimination of whatever possible that makes them happy is always the first step and should be addressed at the first signs of their presence. Beyond that, baiting and/or trapping would be next. Baiting is the first choice as it is effective in most cases and is the simplest solution. Trapping requires much maintenance and constant monitoring and of course, disposal of the trapped rodents.
The best course of action, as always, is prevention.
